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The last Spartans baseball game was March 12, 2020, in South Carolina. The last Spartans softball game was September 29, ‘19.
With the first two games of the season canceled due to health and safety concerns, Sunday will mark the return of baseball for NCC when the Spartans host Northern Essex Community College at noon at Spartan Field. For spectator guidelines click here. The game will be livestreamed here.
The Spartan softball team’s season begins 3:30 p.m. Thursday at home against the Sussex Skylanders. For spectator guidelines click here.
Both teams have been prepping for the new season as best as they could under the circumstances.
“Haven’t been together all year, worked in pods of around eight to 10 players with Zoom sessions,” said head baseball coach Adrian Yaguez. The Zoom sessions were used for discussions so that the time the teams had on the field was all practice, Yaguez explained.
Precautions have been in place following the NCAA protocols for softball and baseball, including daily screenings, check-in procedures and testing for individuals with the highest exposure risk.
With these protocols in place, head softball coach Rick Wilmott said he has no concerns about the possibility of more canceled or postponed games.
“I think with the vaccine being distributed and the numbers falling, I don’t see it affecting the season,” Wilmott said.
Yaguez expressed similar feelings. “We have the opportunity to play, some other schools do not. We trust whatever choices are made for the season are in the best interest of the staff and players’ safety.”
With both the softball and baseball teams nearing the opening pitch, both teams are prepared for what could be a challenging season.
“Baseball takes care of itself. It’s the choices they make off the field — social distancing and wearing a mask,” Yaguez said. “I won’t measure success by wins and losses, moving kids on to 4-year schools — that’s the big goal.”
Wilmott quoted a speech given by a Navy general as the theme for the upcoming softball season, “Get up, make your bed and go accomplish something.”
View the full softball schedule here: https://www.nccspartans.com/sports/softball/schedule
View the full baseball schedule here: https://www.nccspartans.com/sports/baseball/schedule/2020-21
Contact the author of this article at Andretti.colon@nullstudent.northampton.edu.
